The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-10
BOSS COY'S LATEST SCHEME
He Demands Democratic Election In
spectors in All SOuth-Side Wards,
And Threatens, if He Is Not Allowed to Have
His Way, to Choose His Own Inspectors
at the Polls on Election Day.


In the campaign of last year, when Sim Coy be-
gan the development of his plans, which led to
the tally sheet forgeries, his first consideration
was to secure the appointment of a Democratic
inspector for every election precinct in the coun-
ty. 1t had previously been his boast that when
tire then Democratic majority of the County
Commissioners could do So the plan he had ar
ranged would be carried out The commission
ers submitted to his dctation without whm-
per, and after voting down a resolution offered
by Commissioner Clinton. at that time mem
Der of the board. to give the Republicans a rep
resentat;on among the inspectors. APP
proved the list prepared by Coy.
I The little boss at different times
during the campaign instructed these
appointees, both individually and collectively,
as to what was expected of them on election day.
The last Sunday preceding that event he had a
majority of them corraled in the Supreme
Court room, where ne renewed his instructions
with emphasis All this belonged to the meth
DDS that were to be used in electing the Demo-
cratic ticket at any cost. Whether the in
spectors were told that they would be expected
to pass upon forged tally sheets in favor of the
Democratic candidates is not known, but it is
supposed that Coy would not hesitate to advise
purpose. Every inspector understood him,
and when the canvass of the votes
occurred obeyed to the letter his
commands. The result is still fresh,
in the minds of the people, nor have they for
gotten that Coy is waiting his second trial on an
Indictment for conspiracy in this connection,
and his first trial on an indictment charging him
individually with inducing inspectors of election
to violate the law. The man who has said "the
fewer men you have in this politics the better"
and who is the center figure in Democratic party
management, the to whom the widest
limit of arbitrary power is given by his
party associates. is in charge of the
Democratic municipal campaign. At
his dictation the so.caled executive
committee was appointed. by his ukase the GEN.
trail committee referred the choice of candidate
for mayor to che executive committee which, at
his command selected George Edenharter the
candidate for Mayor. and nominated Michael F.
Shields. city clerk. The so called nominations
were ratified by convention, every delegate in
which was named by Coy. There was not IA protest
from the four hundred and odd delegates. They
answered to Coy's command-they answered to
the lash, they do now to Coys command
that every one of them must work for Eden
harter's election as success will be a yindication
of himself and his methods.
But in all his campaigns Coy places a value on
inspectors that is at the bottom of his disrep-
controls
officers of primaries and members of the central
ana executive committees, he looks to the in
spector to do like service for him on election
day. For the municipal elections 1t is the Coun-
Gil and Board of Aldermen that select the in
spectors, and the law does not provide that they
shall be chosen proportIonately in order to give
each party representation the board, but
the Republican majoriries of the two bodies
named have always given the Democrats a num-
Der of inspectors in the wards in which they had
majorities. Acting with the inspector in each
Democratic
judge hence the Democrats have had a majority
in the election board of every ward. which was
considered committed to Lhat party. AT the
next meeting of the Council these inspectors are
to be appointed and Coy and mis- lieutenants are
actively at work in trying to capture a majority
OF them. They want the board that is to can
vass the city vote turned to them, and in
their endeavors to effect this they worked in
two directions. One plan contemplated having
the Council and Board of Aldermen divide sew
eral Democratic wards into three more pre-
cincts The County Commissioners did this last
session of the Council called for last night so
that action could be taken a proposition to
conform to the precincts as arranged by the
Com missioners Had this been done it would
have given Coy about half dozen additional in
spectors, he would insist on having
inspectors for every other precinct of ward
represented by Democrat in the Council. This
would have secured for him majority of the
canvassine board; but the Republicans refused
to entertain the plan. at which Coy became in
solent and said he would be - if the Board OF
Aldermen should pass any list of inspectors that
did not give the Democrats control of one-half
the precinct election boards Coy relies on the
tie vote in that body to defeat any list that ia
not made out according to his wishes and COM
mands. what I want" said he, lis to have
Democrats as inspectors in the South side
wards"
How would 1t do, Sim." suggested Council
man. Ito have the inspectors there Republicans
while Democrats served such in the North
side wards?"
THAT Won't answer. My policy is Democrats
for Democratic wards. / don't care the snap Of
my finger for the North side wards"
But how are you going to help yourself2
The Republicans have majority in Council"
II will defeat anything they arrange in the
Board of Aldermen. If can't get at least one
half the inspectors there shall be none appoint
ed and we will elect them by the bystanders at
the polls on the morning of the election"
1t is safe to say that Coy will not get what he
wants. nor will he defeat the appointments the
Council may make, for the Republicans have vir-
tually said to him that he have a fair pro-
portion of the inspectors. and no more.
Conference of Leading Republicans.
A meeting of Republicans was held last even
ing to talk about the Importance and issues of
the municipal campaign. 1t largely at
tended by such representative men of the party
as Senator Harrison. Ex-Governor Porter. At
torney general Kitchener. Treasurer of
State Lemcke, Secretary of State Grit
fin, Hon. Stanton j. Peelle. John
B. Elan, General Carnahan, Mayor